This martial saint's health bar is too thick

Chapter 591 My Way, Under My Sword

On the sacred mountain, divine light cascades down like a waterfall from the summit.

The coronation ceremony of the new Khan, Sukhrenhe, has concluded.

In front of everyone, Qilian Guanshi crowned the nineteen-year-old Khan.

As he said, the grasslands have welcomed a new king today.

After the ceremony, Qilian Guanshi, the new Khan, several red-robed shamans, and the heads of more than a dozen large families stayed behind.

These important figures, standing at the pinnacle of the grassland pyramids, held a meeting together inside the temple.

"The White Flame Army is heading straight for Sakaze."

A red-robed shaman revealed the information he had just received.

Sakhadze, one of the nine major cities on the steppe.

Huyanhetai and Huyanpushan both originated from here.

"The spirit lamp of Huyanpushan has not been extinguished."

Qilian Guanshi spoke up.

Every temple shaman has a soul lamp placed on the sacred mountain. This soul lamp is a symbol of their status and also allows people to know their life, death, and approximate location at any time.

Huyan Pushan had previously led his army to attack Changgu City, but then encountered Li Fei, who suddenly attacked from the east, and then disappeared without a trace.

Now that Qilian Guanshi says the other party's soul lamp is still burning, the result is obvious—

Huyan Pushan fell into the hands of the Great Blue Dynasty and was captured alive!
"The shaman Huyan has been responsible for maintaining the protective array of Sakaze for many years."

A clan leader from one of the families in Sakhalze couldn't help but speak up.

If Huyan Pushan is captured and related secrets are exposed, then Sakaze will be virtually undefended for the White Flame Army!

Qilian Guanshi glanced at the clan leader, who was so frightened that he fell silent and dared not speak again.

The grassland people were originally a nomadic people, mainly composed of a few major surnames, forming many tribes.

Therefore, the large families on the grasslands are different from the aristocratic families in the Central Plains. Not everyone in a family shares the same surname. Instead, many small tribes come together and attach themselves to a large surname to form a large family.

As a royal family, the Sukhe family naturally had many supporters, but under the bloody purge by Qilian Guanshi, more than half of the dozen or so major families on the grassland had changed their patriarchs!

Therefore, the patriarchs of these prominent families present now hold Qilian Guanshi in awe.

"What are your thoughts on the White Flame Army?"

Qilian Guanshi asked the question.

"."

There was silence.

No one dared to speak.

"Your Majesty."

Finally, a red-robed shaman spoke up, "If you wish to fight, we are willing to follow you to the death!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the others expressed their opinions:
"We are willing to follow you to the death!"

Qilian Guanshi's gaze swept across each person's face as he spoke, word by word:

"Very well, I've decided to avoid their sharp edge for now."

"."

Another silence fell, and everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Gather the elite forces and defend only the three major cities, including the royal city."

Qilian Guanshi said calmly.

These words were like a thunderclap, startling everyone present and causing them to change color!
There are only nine major cities on the grassland, which are connected to the interests of several major temples and more than a dozen major families. Qilian Guanshi actually said that he wanted to give up six of the major cities directly.
"Daman, this..."

Even if one is terrified of Qilian Guanshi's power, one cannot tolerate it at this moment:

"How can we retreat without a fight? What will happen to the people in the city? Are we just going to hand over all the city's resources and wealth to others?"

Qilian Guanshi said calmly, “We, the men of the grasslands, have always lived a nomadic life. Let the people of the city pick up their whips again and ride across the grasslands.”

"As for the city's resources and wealth, take as much as you can. Destroy what you can't take; don't leave a single thing for the enemy."

The patriarch of a large family couldn't help but say:
“Daman, you are already a top-tier expert. With the addition of other powerful figures from the grasslands, even if you face the combined forces of the White Flame Army and Marquis Jing’an, you might not be unable to put up a fight! Why are you so hesitant?”

After he spoke, several other clan leaders followed suit, expressing their opinions and opposing Qilian Guanshi's decision.

The grasslands are home to nomadic peoples, with over 80% of them living without a fixed abode, residing outside of cities.

And it is precisely those 20% living in the nine major cities who hold the greatest power of discourse.

Qilian Guanshi's decision will have the greatest impact on the upper and middle-class elites of the grasslands, and will naturally attract the most resolute opposition!
"The reason for yielding is that only by yielding can we wait for victory."

Qilian Guanshi certainly knew he had to provide sufficiently convincing reasons, otherwise his rule would face enormous problems:

"Tuoba Shanhai".

He called out a person's name.

The burly Tuoba Shanhai stepped out from the crowd.

He was the greatest warrior of the grasslands, the leader of the Sky Wolf Blood Riders, and also the patriarch of the Tuoba family.

The new Khan, Sukhrenhe, looked at the other person with a complicated expression.

The other party was once the Suhe family's most steadfast and trusted ally, but now he has become Qilian Guanshi's 'loyal dog'.

If it weren't for Tuoba Shanhai's betrayal, the royal family wouldn't have fallen so quickly.

"Tuoba Shanhai, my warrior, tell everyone what's going on with you."

Qilian Guanshi said to Tuoba Shanhai.

Tuoba Shanhai bowed to him, then turned to face the crowd and spoke in a tone as broad as mountains and seas:

"I am about to break through to become a saint."

In the grasslands, a saint is someone who is at the very top of their power!
Whether they are martial saints or true lords, they are all called saints on the grasslands.

boom--

These words caused no less shock than Qilian Guanshi's earlier statement about abandoning the six major cities!
Apart from Qilian Guanshi, everyone else stared at Tuoba Shanhai in shock.

No saint has appeared on the grasslands for five hundred years.

Now that Qilian Guanshi has emerged, are we going to produce another Martial Saint?

It is clear that the destiny of the world has finally come to the grasslands.

"May I ask, Chief Tuoba, how confident are you that you can successfully break through to the next realm?"

One of the clan leaders quickly recovered from his shock and asked a question.

The difference between being on the verge of breaking through a realm and successfully breaking through a realm is quite significant.

Over the past five hundred years, many top experts on the grasslands have attempted to break through to higher realms, but without exception, they have all failed and died.

"Li Ming, one of the three great evil spirits, has just fallen."

Qilian Guanshi spoke up at this moment, "Li Ming was a Martial Saint. After his death, the portion of the Martial Saint's fortune scattered. If someone wants to break through to become a Martial Saint in the future, it will be less difficult than before."

"what?!"

Everyone was shocked again.

This was the first time they had heard of the secrets about the fortune of top-tier experts.

"Previously, the Taoist Qingxu Zhenjun, the Qiming of the New Heaven Society, the Grand Preceptor Yun Shu of the Great Blue Dynasty, and the Taoist Wuxun Zhenjun all perished one after another. These top experts of the True One Realm relinquished their positions, causing a qualitative change in fortune and ultimately triggering a 'struggle for advancement'."

Qilian Guanshi calmly recounted the inside story of that 'river-crossing contest'.

After hearing this, everyone present had a burning desire in their eyes.

No wonder Qilian Guanshi was able to break through to the next realm; it turns out he had mastered such a secret!

It is no exaggeration to say that the secret revealed by Qilian Guanshi is priceless!
It's the literal sense—even if it really required exchanging several large cities, these important figures from the grasslands would be willing!
These people are either top experts with the potential to become saints, or their families have had top experts.

"The last 'competition for crossing' was due to the successive deaths of several True One Realm experts, which led to a qualitative change and created a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But this time, only one Martial Saint has fallen, so the situation is different, isn't it?"

A clan chief asked.

Excitement aside, we still need to get to the bottom of this.

Qilian Guanshi: "Indeed, it's different. This time, the change in fortune is not drastic, so there is no 'competition for crossing'. However, I have a secret technique to help me. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I am very confident that I can help Tuoba Shanhai successfully break through! It's just that I can't make a move while casting the spell."

"How long will it take Your Majesty to use your secret technique to help Chief Tuoba break through his cultivation level?"

"It can take anywhere from three or four months to a year."

"."

Everyone looked at each other.

If that's the case, avoiding war seems to be the best option.

After all, if Qilian Guanshi and Tuoba Shanhai cannot take action, what will the grasslands use to resist the White Flame Army and that Marquis Jing'an?

If those six great cities cannot be defended, they will still be lost.

First, he reigned supreme over the grasslands as the strongest ruler, then he used bloody methods to purge his own people and consolidate his power.

Now they're using the secret of destiny to bribe everyone, wanting to 'exchange' for six great cities!
Any one of these things, taken individually, would certainly not be enough to convince anyone to give up the six great cities.

But when several things were put together, the people present were somewhat powerless to object.

6 month 11 day.

On the fourth day after the White Flame Army set out, they arrived at Sakaze.

The city was now in complete chaos.

The powerful elites began fleeing several days ago, triggering widespread panic.

Sakadze Temple.

In the temple square, thousands of devout believers knelt on the ground, praying incessantly.

The afternoon sun was blazing, making the square's ground scorching hot. Suddenly, a figure appeared before the statue in the center of the square.

The man glanced up at the solemn statue and strolled leisurely into the temple.

Many believers in the square looked up and saw this scene, and they all looked bewildered.

click-

A series of crisp cracking sounds rang out from the statue in the center of the square, and the statue was suddenly covered with cracks.

But as the figure entered the temple, the statue collapsed with a crash!

Exclamations, screams, and roars erupted, and the square instantly descended into chaos.

Li Fei strolled into the interior of the Sakadze Temple as if taking a leisurely walk.

A priest in white robes knelt before the statue of a god, praying softly.

As Li Fei walked along, he discovered that only a group of ordinary people remained in the temple, with only this white-robed priest possessing cultivation.

The other party was the only priest guarding this temple.

Because Li Fei did not make any special effort to conceal himself, the movement was noticed. The white-robed priest stopped praying, stood up, turned around, and looked at Li Fei.

After seeing Li Fei's face clearly, the man paused for a moment, then said uncertainly:

"Could it be the Marquis of Jing'an of the Great Blue?"

Li Fei nodded.

The man looked relieved: "To die at the hands of the Marquis is an honor for me."

Li Fei: "Where did everyone else in this temple go?"

The priest said, “The Great Man ordered that, except for the three great cities of Mingdu, Lvzhou, and Yushi, all temple personnel in the other six cities should evacuate and gather in the three great cities.”

Li Fei was taken aback by this answer, not expecting it to be like this.

Qilian Guanshi actually abandoned six major cities?!
"Everyone else in this temple has left, why don't you leave?"

Li Fei asked.

The priest said calmly, “There are still many believers of the God of Man in this city. Someone has to let them know that the God of Man has not abandoned them.”

Li Fei: "Qilian Guanshi directly abandoned six major cities. Isn't that a form of abandonment? Do you still acknowledge such a Great Manchu?"

The priest said with a determined look, "The wisdom of the Great Man is beyond our comprehension. He must have received guidance from the God of Man to do this, and he will surely bring unparalleled glory to the grasslands in the future!"

Li Fei shook his head.

This is complete brainwashing; there's no saving her.

He turned and left the temple.

As soon as he stepped out of the temple, streaks of sword energy suddenly sliced the temple in half.

This magnificent building in Sakaz'dze was reduced to ruins in the blink of an eye by the sword energy!
Li Fei used his [Boundless Distance] supernatural power to leave the city and arrived at the ranks of the White Flame Army outside the city. He found Zuo Jun and told him the information he had gathered.

"Abandon six major cities, consolidate our forces, and defend only three major cities?"

Zuo Jun frowned slightly after hearing this.

Only nomadic peoples on the grasslands could pull off such an operation.

If it were the Great Blue Dynasty, they would dare to give up most of the cities.

The regime is about to collapse, and the fate of the nation is about to crumble!
The majority of the grassland population is already homeless, and the fate of the grassland royal court is largely related to faith.

And the most solid foundation of this faith comes precisely from the herders outside the nine major cities.

This is the source of Qilian Guanshi's confidence.

Today, the people of the grasslands hold the reverence for Daman, who has become a saint, in an unprecedented zenith!
If Qilian Guanshi were to abandon six major cities at this time, the fate of the nation would not be too turbulent.

"Issue the order to the entire army."

Zuo Jun remained silent for a moment, then turned to his deputy and gave the order:
"Enter the city, massacre the city!"

In just a few words, a chilling killing intent has already been ignited!

Zuo Jun remained expressionless, as if issuing a routine military order.

"Commander Zuo!"

Li Fei was shocked upon hearing this, "Why massacre the city?"

Zuo Jun calmly looked at him: "Since Qilian Guanshi dares to abandon six major cities, we must inflict the greatest damage on him. Since he dares to abandon six major cities, we will slaughter all six cities, so that his prestige will suffer the greatest blow and also have the greatest impact on the national fortune of the grassland royal court."

This is the mindset of a general.

On the battlefield, any means that can increase the chances of victory are acceptable!
As for whether to massacre one city or six cities, whether it requires killing tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of people.

This was not within Zuo Jun's consideration.

Li Fei met his gaze, their eyes equally resolute.

"I disagree."

Zuo Jun frowned.

"Destroying the city is sufficient; there is no need to massacre its inhabitants."

Li Fei said this.

Zuo Jun emphasized, "Marquis Jing'an, this is war!"

Li Fei's eyes flickered as he recalled some past events.

When the Barbarian Army was first established, he followed Bai Yan deep into the Northern Barbarian lands to behead the Northern Barbarian King.

During the march, Bai Yan massacred the settlement of a Northern Barbarian tribe!
At the time, the other side also told Li Fei – this is war!
War has no place for benevolence and morality.

At that time, Li Fei was only at the level of a martial arts master, and he was not yet able to fight against a grandmaster. In that war, he was far from having a decisive influence.

Therefore, he could only remain silent.

Whether he is kind or cruel is meaningless.

Because he is not strong enough.

but now.
After a generation of evil spirits died by his fist, no one could ignore his will!
"Commander Zuo, I have always believed that no matter how ruthless the war may be, there are some bottom lines that should be followed—such as not slaughtering civilians."

Li Fei and Zuo Jun exchanged glances, and Li Fei said, word by word:

"I prefer to wield my sword against the strong rather than bully the weak."

Zuo Jun: "."

He couldn't refute that.

Anyone who knows Li Fei knows that he has always faced the strong with his sword!

But what truly silenced Zuo Jun was not his inability to refute Li Fei's words.

As the commander of the White Flame Army, even Ye Jingfu, the governor of the Eastern Territory, had no authority to command him.

Zuo Jun only needed to obey the emperor's orders.

When he led troops in the field, he always acted arbitrarily, and no one dared to question his military orders.

This was the first time his military order had been directly 'rejected'.

Zuo Jun raised his left hand and made a gesture.

swish swish swish swish —

The White Flame Army behind him drew their swords!

An astonishing aura of malevolence surged into the sky as the White Flame Army, known as the 'White Demons,' assumed a charging stance!
Zuo Jun did not intend to argue with Li Fei, but instead directly issued an order to let the White Flame Army storm into the city.

The White Flame Army commander's response was extremely tough!
Li Fei watched this scene unfold, and without him making any move, a deep ditch suddenly appeared in the grass in front of him—

It was as if an immortal had swung his sword from the clouds, leaving a sword mark on the ground!
A sword mark stretching a kilometer long lay across the White Flame Army's formation.

A chilling sword intent also soared into the sky!

This is Li Fei's response.

He refused to back down an inch, and was equally tough to the extreme!
In the ranks, the White Flame Army soldiers all showed hesitation.

They respected their commander, but they also had the same heartfelt respect and admiration for Marquis Jing'an, the great blue war god!

Are we really going to have a big fight with Marquis Jing'an over something like this today?
The vast majority of soldiers were unwilling to take action.

Zuo Jun stared at Li Fei, his eyes shifting:
"Does Marquis Jing'an intend to take action against the soldiers of my Great Blue Dynasty for the sake of the grassland people?"

Li Fei: "I'll ask you the same question. Commander Zuo, are you really willing to fight me for the sake of the grassland people?"

Zuo Jun fell silent again.

He looked at the sword mark not far away, sensing the sword intent within it.

He was a Grandmaster of the Dao Establishment Realm, so he perceived a deeper level of meaning.

He sensed Li Fei's 'Dao' from it.

The opponent's 'Dao' stood there, right beneath his sword—

Even millions cannot stop it!
After a long silence, Zuo Jun issued a new military order:

"Enter the city with the entire army. Anyone who dares to resist will be killed without mercy."

The order to massacre the city was ultimately never issued.

"Commander Zuo, if we don't massacre the city, what advantages will we lose—"

Li Fei nodded to Zuo Jun, left a message, and took to the air:

"This lord, with only his sword, is more than enough to make amends!"